Saturday, December 10, 2011

Though due to a sheer lack of bandwidth Grits has been forced to curtail juvenile justice coverage, the biggest (if little-discussed) criminal justice story in the state this month surely is the abolition on December 1st of the Texas Youth Commission and the Juvenile Probation Commission, merging the two agencies into the new Juvenile Justice Department, whose board (see a list and descriptions) met for the first time last week. At the Texas Tribune, Brandi Grissom's story on the transition opens:

The Texas Youth Commission and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission are officially gone, and in their place, a new agency is taking shape — lawmakers and advocates hope — to more efficiently and effectively deal with young offenders.

The new Texas Juvenile Justice Department's oversight board met for the first time last week, appointing an advisory panel to take recommendations as it merges the agency's two predecessors. They expect to hire a new agency leader as soon as next month.

Throughout the story legislators and policy wonks predict budget savings from the merger, and perhaps that will be the case, but it's also the case that the Lege needs to make targeted investments in community-based services to ensure that kids diverted from youth prisons, and those supervising them, have adequate resources and support. In an article earlier this week from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram ("Tarrant juvenile justice officials wary about new combined state agency," Dec. 4), TJJD boardmember Scott Fisher said he thinks that will happen: "I think you're seeing a greater level of state funding of community-based programs than has existed in the past, because community-based programs do have a higher success rate with the population they deal with."

A judge in the Startlegram story questioned whether the agency would come to be dominated by youth prisons at the expense of probation and community-based programs, as has happened in the adult prison system:

"The concern I think that we all have is that ... when we get in a funding crunch, then the needs of an institution -- which is basically what the Texas Youth Commission was, basically a juvenile prison -- might draw money away from the needs of children in the community," said Jean Boyd, a Tarrant County family law judge who was on the board of the Juvenile Probation Commission until it folded.

Boyd had opposed the merger, but she is now waiting to see how the new agency develops.

"I have to be hopeful," she said. "I support juvenile justice, and I want the agency to be successful, because we need it to be successful for our children."

Who will lead the new agency?

The newly appointed 13-member board met for the first time Thursday and launched a search for a new executive director.

The executive directors of the two previous agencies have applied for the post, and both were placed on paid leave until the board makes its decision on hiring when it meets again next month, Fisher said. Dr. Robin McKeever, the former deputy director of the youth commission, was named interim director.

No employees have lost their jobs, and all positions have been merged into the new agency while officials look for duplication. The Texas Youth Commission had about 3,500 employees, most of whom work in detention facilities. The Texas Juvenile Probation Commission had about 75 employees.

"You're taking two agencies and combining them, so there's going to be some change," Fisher said. "I think there's some uncertainty in the ranks out there."

Not only is there uncertainty in the ranks, it's fair to predict based on past experience with the state merging other agencies that rocky transitions are nearly inevitable - a regrettable feature of the process, not a bug. It's the little stuff that's most difficult: Are the computer systems compatible? How will information management systems be merged? How will the web sites be integrated? Should probation and parole supervision functions be merged? What differences in agency cultures and/or historic priorities will create internal friction? Nobody knows yet and it will take quite some time for the biggest challenges to even become fully apparent. For that reason, my hope is that the Lege will focus for a session or two on finding resources for community-based programming and keep their mitts off the agency's governing structure until the new, yet-to-be appointed leadership team has a chance to get their feet under them.

Speaking of whom, the head of the new agency could be Vicki Spriggs or Cherie Townsend, the past executive directors of the Juvenile Probation Commission and the Youth Commission respectively, or conceivably somebody else, though the smart money is on one of those two getting it. [Grits readers should express their preference in the comments, with two caveats in the interests of constructive civility: 1) be polite, respectful and avoid name calling or I'll delete your comments and shut down the string and 2) don't advocate one or the other candidate without giving a reason why.]

I respect both candidates, but my gut tells me drawing leadership from the Juvenile Probation Commission may better focus agency priorities on the needs of probation, with a shorter ramp up period than we might see hiring from TYC. Vicki knows the local systems much better and would have less of a learning curve coming in to address the main challenge facing the agency - beefing up local, community-based services. That's only my tentative sense, though, and Cherie Townsend also brings many strengths to the table. Both women were given a month off with pay while the new TJJD board figure out what they want to do.

77 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Grits,

Thanks for addressing this issue. It a little sad to know that you have curtailed coverage of juvenile justice issues as your site (as in matters of criminal justice) has been one of the sources to synthesize information in this arena.

I'm not going to throw support to either existing candidate. I'm a little leary of both. The question I have to ask about the appointment of the new leader: Is this a matter of reform or is it just a cost savings measure?

The new appointment will likely give us the telling answer. The appointment of either existing executive director likely means the latter, and I'm not sure that is good thing for a new agency.

During the first meeting together as one agency, it was mentioned several times that the board emphasized that business will run differently. If that is the case, why would the board choose either director of the two abolished agencies?

Is the incoming employee imbalance really 3500 to 75? If that's true it seems almost inevitable that new new agency will come out TYC little different, just with a new name, some new duties, and less money.

With that much of an imbalance I see no chance that the new agency will not come to be dominated by its detention role.

The treatment program at TYC rewards the resourcefulness and cleverness of the sociopath. While stopping short of endorsing the blood soaked culture of the hood, it offers little, if any, challenge to it. The assumptions and culture of the gang is undisturbed.

And all of this at taxpayers expense! To understand this condition, consider the nature of the elites of TYC. Similarly, they are unchallenged.

Either one can do the job. Both have been around Texas for years and know the players statewide. An outsider is definitely not needed. A battle is brewing though and it's gonna be a rough two or three years putting this thing together. Whoever of the two will probably last those two or three years then have to move along. Lots of toes throughout Texas will be stepped on.

"Rough waters lie ahead for yet-to-be-named captain of the new Juvie Justice Department"

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear our wail.

How long, how long will staff members be sacrificed on the alter of grand dreams that emanate from North Lamar? How long, how long before rationality rises forth as a beacon to guide us through rough waters?

Look around Austin, Texas. I know there is another "bean-counter" that knows little about the Juvenile Justice Department. Appoint this person to lead this new department. If it works for TDCJ it certainly should work for this new "little ole" department.

The care of errant youth in this state has had a very sad and tragic history ... abuse upon abuse has been in the news over and over. And the history of that low level of care is long standing. Such a history would indicate a long standing inadequacy of supervision by the Department. Since this history of abusive performance has not be noted by a higher level person becoming a whistle blower, it would seem to me that the present slate should be disposed of and new leadership be appointed from the lowest level up. In other words give credibility to the actions taken.

The list of directors includes members who are so active in so many different politically correct positions that their attention to this organization has been ineffective. They have political importance but do they have the time?

A replacement panel, at this time in the youth history, should have obvious amounts of time that will permit frequent on-site thorough evaluations of the day-to-day performance of the employees of this department. That would diminish or, perhaps, prevent the criminal mental, physical and sexual abuse of young people that has occasionally been a factor in the low level of care performance.

My case against Townsend is quite simple;She has allowed a flawed treatment program (conextions) to stay in place for the past 4 years.This same program is based on buying youth behavior and does not lend itself to rehabilitation.JCO staff are assaulted daily and there is no consequences for this behavior. If this same behavior occurred on the streets the youth would go to jail.Workers comp rates, FMLA, and staff calling sick, is at an all time high (major morale issues).she continues to look outside of the state for "Best Practices" and is fixated on the Missouri Model, not really comprehending she is comparing apples to oranges.Youth in instiuttions continue to hide out in security because they are weaker than others, when they do not they get their medications taken, food taken, and forced to join a gang.She has complete disdain for JCO staff but when she is on your campus she "acts" like she really cares. She has never walked in their shoes so has no real empathy for what they go through daily.She places unqualified individuals in her cabinet to make herself feel powerful and knowleable.Her career is based upon theory and has never actually applied herself to any real position where working with juveniles is required (conducted groups, watched a hallway, ran a routine).If a youth assaulted a staff today and it did not cause serious bodily injury, what would happen to this youth. The youth might have a level hearing and may be placed on redirect, a non-security based program. Ask all the staff how well this program is working.She allows youth not prepared to step down to a less restrictive enviroment (halway house) knowing that absconds (escapes) are occurring regularly. What ever happened to safety and common sense? But by keeping these halfway houses full with youth who recieve federal funding the agency recieves more money to fund other programs. Of course she is looking only at the welfare of the youth and not the funding, right!!

I can go on and on but would prefer others to chime in and point out these and other issues you see that would disqualify Townsend for this position.

The Redirect Program allows for open season on staff (who are outnumbered on the dorm and elsewhere). Those who support the Redirect Program are not our friends. We need to understand this. Four years of bribing those who like to assault is enough.

Look at Workers comp rates, FMLA, and all the staff calling in sick.

Those students who try to follow the rules are at the mercy of the bad actors. Does anyone warn parents about what their sons face?

Aside from a few guys that even Jesus couldnt make happy. TJPC has worked well with all the sending counties. Worked well enough to together reduce commitments to record lows. Through the years has seen funding increases and passed most of that through to the counties. Guess they should have built a massive central office like TYC.

More important try to remember the probation field was the one that is and was all screwed up in this deal. TYC is now and has been so unstable it will be tough to ever change that culture. But it is clear thier current leadership has blown the chance to do that.

It would seem foolish to think adding more responsibilty to the current TYC administration is going to do anything but screw up two organizations instead of the one that created all this mess with the ongoing scandles

Ask the youth in TYC institutions if they feel safe, not the bullies but those youth who actually want to learn something so they do not come back. Your answer would be, I came to TYC with no tattoo's, I leave with them all over my face and body. Pictures do not lie, look at the before and after.Look at the amount of medications that are confiscated monthly, and these are the ones we find. Why would a youth have 20 pills in his locker but has no meds prescribed, just do an open record request and ask for this information. This has been going on for years and luckily no over dose YET. Great leadership Cherie

Scott Fisher since you were on the TYC board and was the chairman, please do not allow your biases effect your judgement when having to chose the next ED for TJJD. I personally believe you should excuse yourself based upon your alliances with Townsend but I do not have a vote or say in this decision. I would say that if Townsend is chosen your job and credability will be called into question when the roof begins to fall, and it will. As you take your scripted stroll on one of our campuses take the time to deter from the chosen path your escort has you on. Visit the cafe (by yourself), enter the education building (by yourself), talk to real staff, not your escort, and ask them their thoughts and feelings about the current programming. That is if you really want to make a good decision.

It will be interesting to see how this merger takes place in terms of employment.

TYC employees are state employees and Probation employees are county employees.

TYC has been state administrated and Probation is locally administrated. Meaning TJPC has very little direct administration of probation services, they simply enforce grant guidelines. TYC is directly administrated and operated by TYC administration. Will everyone be converted to a State employee or a county employee?

One thing is for certain, both TYC and TJPC need to cull some oxygen wasting employees. If either executive is appointed they need to be pressured not to bring any of their trash with them!

While the TJPC executive is very capable to lead the agency, the TJPC staff are NOT and do not have the direct administration experience, leadership, and knowledge to pull it off.

The new "captain" would be wise to consider if they want to take on such a task. Don't know how in the world this will be pulled off without major infighting between juvenile departments and residential facilities! You are probably going to feel like one of Johnny Cash's cowboys in "Riders in the Sky!"

So you are saying that no news means everything is good? But OOOOOHH if only that were true.That is think kind of thinking that got TYC into trouble.

There is much that has not been made known about "what goes on in probation" because of the ablity to squelch the information at the local level and TJPC not wanting liability tied back to them. Part of the reason juvenile departments are at arms about the new agency is because they know their dirty laundry is going to be hung out to dry where more people are going to see it. It will be much harder to the keep the deep dark dirty secrets within the county.

Grits makes an excellent point, that choosing leadership from the probation side of the merger would load the community based strategic initiatives over the historically failed institution side of the agency. However, the more I learn about Juvenile Justice in Texas, its history, its current state, the more I realize what a hopeless black hole money pit it is. It’s disappointing to see the greatest minds who work in the state’s Juvenile Justice arena are nothing more than rats on a wheel, running to make themselves look good. The various name changes that have occurred in Texas juvenile justice history has been to cover up from something terrible that has happened to children in the care. This name change is no exception. This name change was to cover for the wide spread practice of pedophilia in the institutions. It’s so overwhelming, so accepted as a cultural norm, and so needed to be covered from the highest levels of government that the name change was required. It’s a good thing tyc produces such dramatic changes in the children who come to them for help, it’s a good thing that so many 87%, of the kids die or go to tdcj because of the training tyc provides. Otherwise there would be so many more witness to the atrocities this agency is allowed to perpetrate on the children of Texas.

The tyc has been in the business of rewarding sociopathic behavior for of 120 years. It’s a technique the staff uses to keep order. Stronger kids holding pressure on the weaker, where staff reward the stronger. Now it’s an official program called conextions and the staff are complaining?! LMAO

I nust say with this changing atmosphere retirement looks better and better. Having been in both fields having dealings with administration of both former agencies I can tell you the TJPC staff have always held a higher regard for the care of the children in Texas than the TYC staff have. Townsend has started some changes but until a firm grasp is taken on the juveniles under their care and stop letting the KIDS run the show there will never be any reform of the state ficilities.TJPC, under Spriggs' guidance, has made major strides in the care of the children. Yes, county probation departments balk at the standards but again if there is a culture change on monitoring visits from adversarial role to "we work with you" role the county departments could swallow the pill better.The past 2 sessions have shown that legislators want probation departments to take the lead role in diverting kids from state secure facilities. Each county department strives to "cure" the juveniles within their county. If you send kids to the former TYC they RETURN to our community worse off.Ms. Spriggs is my vote for Executive Director because of the leadership shown as listed above.

9:46...Probation departments that deal with thousands upon thousands of kids each year are sure to make mistakes. TJPC has some oversite functions but the bulk of the issues are local. If there is a local issue and it falls in some way under the legislated areas where TJPC can act they do and have.

Of the Chiefs I know most see TJPC overall as a good agency. Do all of the monitoring visits go great of course they dont. But in all my years of listening to chiefs complain about this standard or that standard, I've yet to see any Chief testify or even have legislation drafted to remove any level of oversite from the commission. They/we have spent hours upon hours griping about standards, using all the buzzwords like "unfunded mandate" and child safety, and never have we been a part of drafting a single piece of legislation to take away any oversite function from the commission.

Bottom line we use them for our scape goats at times but while we all have our differences with them at times we know that overall we, the field, and TJPC are on the same page more than we are not!

The field has no fear from this merge my friend, we all just know we can work with the ED of TJPC and most of her staff...and all we hear about TYC and how they operate leaves alot to be desired.

11:46 ..."TJPC has some oversite functions but the bulk of the issues are local. If there is a local issue and it falls in some way under the legislated areas where TJPC can act they do and have."

TJPC has on had an "indirect administrative role" over juvenile probation and detention, TYC has been under direct administration of a State agency who takes a direct hit everytime someone sneezes. That will be something terribly foreign to an executive who has operated in a system where the Chief officer has to answer for the boo-boo's.

You seem to be overlooking the fact that juvenile probation will no longer be able sit on the fence and throw rocks at "TYC", juvenile probation and TYC are now brothers and sisters in TJJD.

Don't you think that will be a grand canyon leap for anyone employed in TJPC who is not accustomed to being directly responsible for mistakes in the Juvenile System?

I too believe the best fit is V. Spriggs. Even though her former agency is smaller in employees TJPC led the charge in reforms years ago and TJPC technically oversees every employee in a county department across the state. Sure it caused a significant increase in standards when they started the reforms but for the most part they were for the wellbeing of the kids we come in contact with. Now, I agree the mannerism that the monitoring division has when they enter a county probation site is like a bully coming to the birthday party but their attitudes start from their leads and can be changed. Overall, the new agency is in place, the board is in place with 3 chiefs representing our profession, the advisory council is set with a great bunch representing the field, all we need is a good minded Executive Director to help divert more youth from statewide incarceration.

What about some one new? Why should it be either of the two current directors?? How about a current or retired chief (Ive been around 27 years and i want no part of it). How about one of those so called experts in the field of advocates?? How about Madden, he is retiring?? Let TPA, JJAT and TJDA pick someone who can represent us?? Or not. Maybe the one with the most loyal following will win out in the end, but that would make too much sense to go with the best choice. Ms. Spriggs is by far the best choice even though I don't agree with some of the things her people do, esp during the Nazi-style monitoring visits.

From 12:45-"...Now, I agree the mannerism that the monitoring division has when they enter a county probation site is like a bully coming to the birthday party but their attitudes start from their leads and can be changed."

From 11:01 - "Yes, county probation departments balk at the standards but again if there is a culture change on monitoring visits from adversarial role to "we work with you" role the county departments could swallow the pill better.

Juvenile Probation Departments are about to partake in the Mastication that is served up when placed under a state agency. If you think that "standards enforcement" is unpleasant just wait until the new agency's ----s begin to swell!

Let's face it, if someone from high up is putting pressure for one or the other to be named the executive director what is the board to do?? Hopefully pick the BEST one, the one who has been out of the news media. If they really want to start cost cutting then go with the candidate with the lower salary.

Does anyone know if the State Human Resources office will pick the employees for the Residential side of TJJD? Surely county's aren't going to be required to rehire for all the vacated TYC positions?If State HR is still involved how will that mesh? Can't see how you can have state and county employees all mixed together under one agency.

This new department has the opportunity to outshine the other 49 states if is under the correct leadership. Both candidates that we know of are strong but only one has been portrayed in a positive manner statewide and on a national level while the other has made state and national news for wrong reasons. Which one do we want? In my opinion go with the one who has her act together, Ms Spriggs, or just throw the keys to the juveniles and let them have it all. That is happening already.

12:31..."a direct hit every time someone sneezes"....rape is a sneeze. Horrible medical care for kids in facilities, broken bones confused for pulled muscles? Kids running the show in every facility assaulting staff, a sneeze? And week or so ago kids cuffed and running loose and destroying the place, I guess a bigger sneeze!

On grits, in news papers around the state anyone can read about all the hell that has taken place inside the secure walls of the ten, now seven facilities of TYC. For you to try to compare that to the problems within the 80 or so county operated pre and post adjudication facilites operated by the counties is quite a stretch. I feel like I need to remind you that this whole mess was not brought about by a failure within TJPC, the probation field was not making the headlines during all of this. From "inner circle" raises to unreported assaults and JCO's at almost every facility saying the programing is a huge part of the problem and that cry falling on deaf ears in Austin.

I'll admit we have things to work on as does any organization that works with the kids we work with, but thank goodness our leadership has had the good sense to listen to the field. To gather chiefs from across Texas and openly addressed issues through the Advisory Council and free it up to tackle real issues and not just some cosmetic answers to meet some requirement.

I or my fellow chiefs that operate a facility will gladly put our record up against the TYC programs in a second. We do not get to hide, we do not get to pass the buck, we do not get to move staff or kids to play like nothing happened.

If we are as you say brothers and sisters, I would suggest you check into how we operate and what all we do with the thousands of kids we deal with everday before you start that line about chiefs hiding and not taking responsibilty for his or her department. Until that time I'll admit we are in the same family, but you guys are that uncle we dont talk about! But you are welcome on holidays, so Merry Christmas and I'm sure in time it will all work out.

You mean to tell me the juvenile detention doesn't release hell raisers out of detention before they have even stayed 10 days in order to reduce liability? (or certify them as an adult.) Unfortunately when someone is sent to TYC we don't have that luxury.

Just want to clarify for the confused...the new agency does not have any county employees in it. Both TYC and TJPC employees were state employees. TJPC provided oversight to counties...it did not employ the local staff.

Rough waters ahead, indeed. But not much so for the Powers That Be in Austin who will probably continue to do whatever they want to do, regardless of the effect it has on the incarcerated youth or those who monitor them.

As a Juvenile Correction Officer, I have nearly lost hope that there will ever be any REAL accountability in regards to the sad state of day to day operations at TJJD until someone is killed. That's the usual mode of doing things in the juvenile justice system: Keep ignoring the obvious until it's toooo late.

Sure, they've sent bogus do-nothing "inspectors" and media types down on guided tours to see what's going on... or should I say to show them what they WANt them to see. And of course, everything will look nice and tidy.

But the REALITY of the situation is that nothing much of ANYTHING works as it should at the facility I work at. I think it makes precious little difference WHO gets the ED spot in the new TJJD organization since neither one will likely want to honestly examine the sorry state the Agency is in -- until something catastrophic erupts that demands a closer look.

If pressured to choose, though, I'd say let's let Ms. Townsend step down and let someone fresh take a whack at things. How much worse can we expect campus culture to get?

08:04When something catastrophic erupts they will act surprised or even shocked as if they had no warning. As if they had no idea things were so wrong. How can anyone ignore so much evidence? They must work hard at it. The leadership at the facility can manufacture any sort of appearance to visitors who show up.

3:44 PM You are hitting it right on the nose. We that operate a county detention center have our share of issues sometimes but I can safely say when we get TYC re-treads they incite others to misbehave because they know the TYC mentality of letting the kids run the show. I would prefer to never send a kid to the former TYC facilities but sometimes we have to.Again, you are correct about TJPC pulling the state together. The Advisory Council is a fantastic forum for the individual regions to be heard. I din't envy the 7 chiefs for taking this on but admire them for wanting to help. Luckily 5 of the 7 have been on the AC before and at least 1 is a new chief with fresh eyes. Will the Advisory Council be able to influence the board on their executive director search?Are there any candidates besides the 2 current directors even applying?

Grits,I've been one of the in the trenches JCO's at TYC and now the TJJD. So far not a thing has changed and the behavior of the youth has gotten to the point that its dangerous to work. I'm not making this up its reality at the Giddings campus. Mass escapes and huge gang fights and student beat-downs are growing in number and more violent. Connexions was a total waste of time and money. The youth do not care and openly announce they will get out regardless if they do the program or not. "I'll age out. I'll get out when my time is up." Are two things I've heard over and over. And yes the examples of this behavior are released back to the streets to commit more crimes and they do it.

I'm all for a total shake up of the TJJD and new leadership that isn't afraid to get in the trenches and deal with the youth and the entrenched bureaucracy that is causing untold issues with the agency. Why are we paying 23k for both heads to have a "Month Off?" We need them to be working the dorms with us embattled staff dealing with the monster their useless programs have created.

As some one else said I wouldn't want the job. I don't think anyone realizes what a nightmare this will be for 2-3 years. Give the county departments more diversionary money so we can keep kids from entering the cess pool at the still open facilities.Maybe the new board and advisory council will be effective. Our new guy comes with good credentials as long as he keeps in mind we are mostly small counties.

The new director needs to understand what goes on in the real world. The new board at least has 3 chiefs who understand and there are several judges that know about juvenile issues. The director needs to take guidance from the field through the advisory council and work WITH the field, not against them. Legislature needs to look at the small short term picture and for now and focus on the needs of the juveniles across the state and not on personalities the entire state will benefit. Listening to peers from across the state in both the county and facility side I would hope the TJPC side takes the lead. I am proud of the new board and the newly selected advisory council but hope they keep in mind there are good employees in the facilities as well as the county departments and speaking from experience the county side is much more appreciative than the state facilities side.

OK So the board I know oversees the entire new department, county and state facilities. Does the advisory council advise on both probation and lockdown issues?? It is great that we have such a good representation on the board and council but we need to make sure they recognize they are associated with both. There are a few strong watchdogs on the board and council and I hope they will take care of both sides adequately.BTW I support Spriggs because of her "CAN DO" attitude.

TJPC executive is a good candidate but would strongly encourage her to "upgrade" staff selection from what currently occupies TJPC personnel. Some of the personnel near the top of TJPC couldn't pour water out of a boot if instructions were printed on the heel.

TYC no longer exists, for all intents and purposes, the new director should be allowed to employ new staff in Austin. Retaining the current staff would be detrimental to the new agency and the juveniles in their care as it would, sooner than later, manifest itself with the same mental attitude that drove TYC into the ground. The new agency needs new blood (from top to bottom) to boost morale and reform the new agency.

Don't need an outsider???? Few in Central Office have any juvenile institutional experience and are, in essence not from TYC = outsiders. They came from smaller programs in other states, from TDCJ or the private sector. Most were appointed to their positions even after TYC came out of conservatorship and a good number of them were so over their heads, they resigned and went elsewhere...quickly. And as has been stated again and again, the TYC "treatment" program is a joke. Check how many kids move to a halfway house only to wind up back in a secure facility or run at the first opportunity. The facts don't lie...TYC does. Rough waters? To be sure. But unless a change in leadership is made, nothing will change. Ms. Townsend is not the answer. I would rather see Ms. Spriggs in the position. At least she has a proven successful track record with TJPC. And she certainly can't do any worse a job than the current bunch. In the end, we all lose (the kids, communites, families, tax-payers, crime victims) if things don't change. Time will tell.

Townsend should save everyone less misery and choose to not interview. Do the honorable thing and move onto retirement. Remember you did buy 3 years of state service last year you can step down and draw a monthly pension of at least $9500 a month

I agree with 12:08. Vicki would be ok, but she needs to consider a complete overhaul of her top TJPC staff. They have little credibility with probation. Their main interest has been in avoiding liability by adding more and more rules instead of taking the time to review what actually happens in a detention setting.

I don't know what all the fuss is about. We need someone new in that position. Period. Out with the old agencies and their people, in with new. New department, new director, new direction. We have a new board, go with new philosophy. Diversion over incarceration. Cut facilities, implement diversion programs.

Both of the 'current' directors are program hacks that I've worked with as both a contractor and as and employee of the state. Neither showed much in the way of innovative programming or agency management. Maintaining a low profile and the status quo was the apparent method of operation. My recommendation is that the Interim Supt. of Education be made agency director. She turned the sunken ship of Al Price around long after the decision was made to abondon it. She has instituted innovative programming in the education component (the one that actually keeps kids from re- offending) and she's smart enough to actually listen to people in the field while filtering thru the hidden agendas and back stabbing which is rife within the old TYC. As for someone with Juvenile Probation Commission experience, frankly the only thing that TJPC was good for was annual conferences and nice t- shirts. County Chiefs always did what they, or their county judge, wanted to do for youthful offenders. Afterall, is anyone out there stupid enough to think that kids get to TYC without going thru the 'rigorous' probation program?

Al Price was a cess-pool and that ship sunk a long time ago. Also the reason why Mart and Giddings are having major issues is based upon youth who were transferred from Al Price and Crockett. Now why would you make this statement about the interim Education person unless you are this person posting. I would also suggest reading the qualifications for the ED job before you make such a assinine statement, she does not qualify, thank God. Lastly Townsend knew how bad Al Price and Crockett were she had hoped by closing them these issues would just go away, apparently they have not and it is biting her on the butt

Please come back to TYC. Nothing has changed, it's abuse and corruption without equal. It is little more than a finishing school for the adult system. Evins was just the tip of the rotting, festering sore that is TYC. Once you left, it went back to the way it used to be.

Whispering Voice - "Afterall, is anyone out there stupid enough to think that kids get to TYC without going thru the 'rigorous' probation program?"

Don't agree with the rest of your post but this point caught my eye.

If Juvenile Probation is so sure they can be the solution to the problem, why didn't they fix things when the juvenile were under their jurisdiction????

AND, if juvenile probation wasn't successful with youth offenders and subsequently sent them to TYC, just how in the hell are they going be successful just because of a structure change putting the TJPC exec in the driver's seat?

Very interesting point, and hope some juvenile experts will explain that "phenomenon."

What TJJD needs is to have a decision made "from the top" (who ever that ends up being) as to what the purpose of TJJD is. Is it indeed a finishing/prep school for TDCJ -- or not? Is is an agency devoted to rehabilitation, punishment, or WHAT??

Are incarcerated juveniles to be treated like "troubled youth" or the convicted felons they are? Kids sentenced to be locked up are NOT there for stealing a six pack of beer... they are murderers and rapists, people who pistol whip innocent victims and brag about it to their peers at night.

If the ED of the new agency wants to get serious about preventing recidivism, s/he will need to start treating these youth as PRISONERS and see there are NO MORE slip-n-slides and snow cones and such given as bribes for good behavior. As it stands, being locked up is more like being sentenced to a resort camp with a fence around it than a prison... the kids often times DON'T WANT TO LEAVE when their time is up.

To be effective, the new head of TJJD will need to adopt a harder line towards these offenders, and make it a place they DON'T want to be.

The bleeding heart coddling and kid gloves approach need to go... otherwise, the youth will just end up as career adult criminals who are used to -- and expect -- to be taken care of by the State.

One could read the stories from a small number of tyc survivors on the Gatesville State School for Boys blog and see that tyc has had a history of abuse and a culture of cover up for a very long time. Well as you people like to say State Boys lie so Dr Bill Bush wrote a book that pretty much backs us up. Thanks Doc.

It’s sad what these monsters have been allowed to do to kids in the name of state employment all the while stealing resources from the state. Having met and/or spoken with 1000’s of tyc survivors who were in you peoples care at some time over the last 6 decades I can’t find one who would easily say anything positive about you people.

I think it’s safe to say on behalf of all kids who were too tough for the probation wieners to handle and placed in tyc for rehabilitation, We hate You People. It’s something that you people have instilled deep in our being and it’s tough to overcome. That’s the finishing school crap written about above.

We the alumni of tyc HATE YOU PEOPLE.

As Ive gotten older, I have come to realize that these types of state agency’s draw their emps, be it the jco or ed, from the lowest rungs of the social class relitive to the position. Untill this hiring practice changes your new agency is not going to change one damn thing, it didn’t when the name changed to tyc why should it now. Same garbege employeed.A former tyc alumni wrote a book called In The Iron Cage, in the summery he writes something every kid who has been to tyc knows to be true. “Correctional workers are sexual predators, undereducated, evil, corrupted, and sadistic. The only skills they have are to live off the misery of their fellow human beings—they are the scum of the earth!”

The problem remains the same , Townsend and crew know exactly nothing of how the counties and the state relationship works. Granted, while she's on leave and suppose to staying out of everything reports is she is visiting two board members departments and Tom Green county. And I guess going to a board members department isn't in conflict with the instructions given about her paid leave. Wonder if she's using a state car while on leave. Must be nice to not have to do what your told. Any conflict with sucking up to two chiefs on the board. The fix has been in on this deal for months but all the problems remain. Gonna be a rough couple of years , hope no one gets hurt to bad in a facility.

TJJD needs leadership from outside not from TYC since Vicki stepped out of the running. Gues she realized that if she recieved the job her work would be tremendous based upon the poor showing Townsend has done these past 3 years.Say Cherie, Arizona needs you back, I am sure we can take up donation for your travel, heard your husbund still lives there so you would not have to worry about a place to live.

I think the haters of Al Price are the ones that were fired for being over qualified with no common sense, and were duly dismissed. I know your disgruntled because you wanted to do it your way and thats why your on the highway. Play nice or cry into your pillow.

At least the Hood county tragedy got reported! Had it been a TYC run facility the child would have been moved twice along with a report showing he had bearthing problems.

The old TJPC does not operate a facility. And the very chiefs that have screamed at monitoring reports have spent hours and hours in Austin at Hagar office making sure there are no or very limited sanctions TJPC could even place on a facility.

It is what it is,and there is not going to be lot of change. Most of the riff-raff has already been rifted or terminated, except that there is still some that are not going to be happy either way. You would think they would step down or get out if they don't want or like the direction we are going. I really feel bad that your still employed and unhappy. Don't think for a minute that the top people in education is a problem. Its the people that don't want to change for the greater goal of the youth we work with. Take a look at yourself and decide if your on-board, if not you might need to change your profession. I guess you could continue to nag and be unhappy if that is the kind of therapy you need to make you feel important.

Anyone watching this knows the fix was in ! How can there be a debate about that ? Any board members from the tjpc board on this new board ? Nope.

This board was told who to give the job to when they were interviewed, does that not sound like the fix was in?Even with that as we sit here today TYC remains broke and most of their actions can't be defended and they are still trying to find a way to keep the fix going. Unfortunately bad things keep happening and maybe this board will grow some and think for a second about the kids locked up and the lowly non central office 6 figure grunts on the front line and do the right thing!

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